The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is to propose a complete ban on sledging at a meeting with the game's rule-makers next week.

Niranjan Shah, BCCI secretary, told BBC Sport that sledging is damaging the game and that he will raise the issue with the International Cricket Council.

"Sledging is not required in cricket. It's not good for the game," he said.

"Cricket is a gentleman's game, not a contact sport. We don't see why there should be any abusive language at all."

Sledging - the verbal abuse of players - was once defended as a legitimate tactic by former Australia captain Steve Waugh, though he preferred the term "mental disintegration".

India's recent Test series in Australia was marred by controversy after spinner Harbhajan Singh was charged for allegedly racially abusing Australia's Andrew Symonds, though the off-spinner was later cleared at an appeal.